Single-use food containers: call for evidence - summary of responses

Conclusion

198. This summary of responses to the call for evidence on tackling consumption of single-use food containers and other commonly littered or problematic single-use items raises a wide range of environmental, social and economic issues and challenges associated with these products and available alternatives. Out of the items included in this call, food containers, cigarette filters and incontinence and period products elicited a greater response and more detailed evidence, but there was still a range of views and evidence given for sachets, bowls, trays and platters and fruit and vegetable packaging. Clearly there is interest across public, community, business and industry stakeholders to engage with debates on single-use plastics and a message that progressive measures are needed to drive better environmental and economic outcomes, particularly for products that play a significant role in everyday life.

199. Each specific item in this call for evidence raised specific issues, challenges and opportunities. For example, the evidence and views on food containers presented a range of challenges and opportunities for takeaway and hospitality businesses, including the use of reusable food containers and the food hygiene concerns this raises; meanwhile, the evidence and views on cigarette filters presented challenges and opportunities around alternative filter materials, waste disposal costs and the health debates surrounding smoking and e-cigarettes. The responses suggested that a range of (at times conflicting) public and business interests are at stake across each of the items and the evidence provided by respondents reflected that.

200. Despite this complexity, there were a range of cross-cutting themes and issues that were shared across the single-use plastics items covered in this call. This included: litter and the environmental damage that littering of single-use plastics can cause; the large and complex market for these items and the range of industry and business interests at stake; that environmentally-friendly alternatives are available but there are a range of negative impacts and challenges associated with these; that barriers to change include consumer behaviours and norms, business costs and the complexity of policy and regulations. Responses also demonstrated a general need to consider inequalities in society and how those who experience socio-economic disadvantage and those with protected characteristics may be impacted by policy development.

201. This summary of responses has reported on the evidence provided by respondents, reporting on the type and nature of the evidence provided. It did not analyse and report on the evidence itself which forms a critical next stage for supporting policy development on single-use plastics. The analysis demonstrated that single-use plastics is a dynamic and complex policy area, and that reviewing up to date evidence beyond this publication (from 2023 onwards) and from a wide range of evidence sources and stakeholder groups will be needed to ensure the latest evidence and a diversity of views are captured. Consulting other key stakeholders and experts will also help identify gaps in evidence and areas of uncertainty and dispute. Drawing together different types of evidence, including science, international policy comparisons, market research, industry and business insights, local government case studies and research on consumer behaviours will be important for future analysis.